Ore-concentrating machine.



No. 840,491. PATBNTBD JAN. s, 1907.

H. C. HOLTHOFP. ORB GONGBNTRATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED .1111.211901 a sums-SHEET 1..

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H. c. HOLTHOPP; i ORE CONGENTRATING 1.\[.\0H11\1.E.

`APPLICATION FILED APR.2Z,1905

3 SHEETS-.SHEET 2.

THE NoRRls PETERS co., wAsHmoraN, n.,c.

No. 840,491'. y PATENTE) JAN. s, 1907.

H. c. H-OLTHOFP.

ORE GUNCENTRATING MACHINE. lAPPLICATION FILED APR. 22,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.v

ru: mmm: PETERS co., wAsHlNcraN, D. cA

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

Application filed April 22, 1905. Serial No. 256,835.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. HoLTHoFF, a. citizen of the United States, residing at 'Milwaukea in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Concentrating Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to that class of ore dressing or concentrating machines generally known as vanners or vanning-machines, in which the pulp consisting of pulverized ore mixed with water is fed upon an endless vibrating belt, and the heavier and lighter particles of ore are separated land caused by the vibrating motion of the belt to arrange themselves in strata according to their specific gravity,y the heavier and valuable particles or concentrates which settle upon and adhere to the belt being lcarried over its upper or head end, while the lighter particles of waste rock and sand are washed off at the lower or tail end.

The main objects of the present invention are to avoid disturbing the heavier particles of metal and ore and remixing them with the lighter particles of Waste rock and sand after they have once arranged themselves in separate strata, to obtain a more perfect separation of mineral from waste, to increase the capacity of machines of this class, and generally to improve their construction and operation.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the peculiar arrangement and combinations of parts, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection of the machine on the line 3 3, Fig. l;

and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of the belt-sections or leaves, Fig. 4 being a vertical longitudinal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 6, of two adjoining sections or leaves, Fig. 5, a vertical cross-section on the line 5 5 of a portion of a single section or leaf, and Fig. 6 a fragmentary plan view of a section or leaf.

In ore-concentrating machines of this class vthe pulp is fed upon the belt from a distributyvided at the ends with cross-shafts ing-box at a point about one-third of the length of the machine from the uppery or head end, and the particles gradually assume toward the lower or tail end a stratified arrangement according to their specific gravity. the heavier underlying stratum of concentrates adhering to the belt being carried back underneath the distributing-box toward the head end, while the overlying stratumof rock and sand, with the'water, flows onward toward the tail end. As the pulp is discharged from the dstributing-box it falls or strikes with some force upon the returning bed of ore on the belt, causing a disturbance of the stratified arrangement which it has assumed and remixing the heavier particles of metal and ore with the lighter particles of rock and sand, thereby continuously undo-J ing a large part of the work already performed by the machine.

One ofthe main purposes of the present invention is, as above stated, to prevent this disturbance of the stratied bed of ore and the remixing of its heavier and lighter partic es.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

`a, designates the main frame, the sides of I which may be conveniently made of Z-bars,

as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. This frame j is` supported upon legs b 5, being pivoted to the legs I) adjacent to the head end and adjustably connected with the legs b adjacent to the tail end of the machine, the legs b" being provided with vertical adjustin -screws c for varying the inclination of the ame a. A vibratory frame d, su ported from the main frame a by vertica springs e, is pro.-

on which are mounted sprocket-wheels gj An endless concentrating-belt consisting of carrying-chains or link belts h and leaves or sections fi., hinged transversely at their head ends to said chains, is mounted upon said sprocket-wheels. The leaves or sections i are constructed and arranged to lap one over another on the upper side or span of the belt and to drop into an approximately vertical position on the under side or span ofthe belt, the tail end vof each leaf or Section overlapping the head end of the next succeeding section toward the tail end of the machine.

As shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, each leafl or section comprises a fiat metal plate which has upturned or closed sides j, a mat k, of rubber or other material, having a suitablev IOO IIO

concentrating-surface, and a raised margin l at its head end, and a shield m, supported on longitudinal cleatsn, over and partially covering the mat between its upturned sides from its tail end to a point some distance from its head end. The shield, with its supportingcleats and the underlying mat, are fastened by bolts, rivets, or other means to the metal plate forming the base of the leaf or section. The shield, which may be conveniently made of sheet metal, and the leaf are reinforced and stiifened by transverse tie-rods o, passing through and secured at the ends in the upturned sides The edge of the shield nearest the head or hinged end of the leaf is preferably rolled around one of these rods. The mat maybe formedwith a longitudinallycorrugated surface, as shown, or with any kind of ribbed, roughened, or plain surface suitable for the purpose. The upper span of the belt is supported and prevented from sagging between the sprocket-wheels at the ends of the machine by rollers p, mounted on the upper side of the frame d. On the under side the chain or link belts 7L pass between the ends of the machine beneath and around guiding sprocket-wheels g, supported by hangers on the frame d and taking up the slack in said belts. A transverse vibratory movement is imparted to the frame d and the concentrating-belt which it carries from a longitudinal shaft r, mounted on the main frame a at one side thereof and provided with eccentrics s, which are connected by straps and rods t with the opposite side of said frame d.

The sprocket-wheels at the head or upper end of the machine are turned, and the belt is driven in the direction indicated by arrows on Figs. l and 2 from the shaft r at any desired rate of speed through the following connections: The shaft f at the head of the machine is extended at one end andprovided with an arm u, and j ournaled in line with said shaft on the main frame is a short shaft o, which is provided at its outer end with a worm-gear 'w and at its inner end with an arm x, which is adapted by engagement with the arm u to turn said shaft and at the same time permit free endwise movement thereof and transverse vibration of the frame d and concentrator-belt. A shaft y, j ournaled on the main frame below and parallel with the shaft 2",`is provided with a worm z in engagement with the worm-gear w and with a ilanged or grooved pulley 2 which is splined upon and movable lengthwise thereof, and is connected by a'belt with a cone-pulley 3 on the shaft 1^. Anadjustingscrew 4;, threaded in one end of arod`5, which is connected at its other end with a loose collar on the hub of the pulley 2, serves to adjust said pulley lengthwise of the shaft 11'/ and to vary the speed at which it is driven by the cone-pulley 3, and hence the speed of the concentrator-belt- A distributing-box 6, mounted upon the frame d and extending transversely over the concentrator-belt, is arranged to distribute and feed the pulp which is piped or conveyed thereto upon the shields m and the leaves i, between the shields of the concentrator-belt as they pass underneath said box` One or more wash-water boxes or heads 7, supported from the main frame a, are arranged to de liver water across the concentrator-belt between the distributing-box 6 and the head of the machine. Curved guides S, attached to the frame d at the head of the machine, supportthe leaves t as they pass around the adjacent sprocket-wheels q and prevent them from dropping at once and straining their hinge connections with the carrying-chains h. A box or receptacle 9 is provided underneath the frame a, to receive the concentrates discharged or washed from the leavesfi as they pass over it and drop into a vertical position, as shown in Fig. l. A transverse spray-pipe 10, extending across the under side of the main frame a, is arranged to wash the colleentrates off from the mats 7c, to which they adhere, into the box or receptacle 9.

The machine operates as follows: The frame being adjusted so that the upper side or span of the concentrator-belt inclines downwardly toward the tail end sufficiently to cause the pulp and water to iiow in a direction opposite to the travel of the upper span of the belt, (indicated by arrows on Figs, 1 and 2,) the pulp being supplied to the distributer-box 6 and water to the box or head 7, and the concentrater-belt being set in motion by means of any suitable driving connection with the shaft r, the pulp flows in a thin wide stream from the box G upon the shields m as they pass underneath it and from the lower or tail ends of the shields upon the mats k of the following leaves or sections of the belt, some of the pulp being discharged directly from said box upon the mats through the open soaees between the shields. rlhe heavier particles of metal and ore, under the infiuence of the vibratory motion imparted to the concentrater-belt, sink to the bottom ofthe bed of pulp distributed over the mats 7c underneath the shields m and are not remixed with the overlying stratum of rock and sand as they pass back under the feed-distributing and wash-water boxes 6 and 7. The clear water supplied from the box or head 7 washes oil'l any sand. that may remain on the concentrates after they pass the feedbox. The concentrates adhering to the mats covering the bottoms of the leaves or sections of the belt are carried over the upper head end of the machine and are washed.l ofi into the box 9 by sprays or jets of water from the pipe 10 as the leaves or sections of the belt are carried in an approximately vertical position below and past said pipe.

By covering and protecting the bed of ore lOO as it assumes a stratified condition on the concentrating-beltk against disturbance and agitation by the fall of "the pulp and water from the feed and wash water boxes, the capacity of the machine is materially increased, a more perfect separation and concentration are effected, and waste of valuable material with the tailings is avoided.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without materially affecting the operation of the machine, and without departing from the principle and intended scope ofthe invention.

1. In an ore-concentrating machine, an endless belt having a series of shields attached to and movable with it and arranged with spaces between them over'the workingsurface of the belt, substantially as described.

2. In an ore-concentrating machine an endless belt provided with aseries of hinged leaves or sections having raised sides and adapted to llap one over another on the upper side of the belt7 each leaf .or section being provided with a shield partially covering .its working surface, substantially as described.

'3. In an ore-concentrating machine an endless belt provided with a series of hinged leaves or sections adapted to lap one over another on the upper side of the belt, each leaf orV section having closed or raised sides converging toward the ltail end, a concentratingmat and a shield supportedover and partially covering said mat, substantially as described.

4. In an ore-concentrating machine the combination of a suitable frame provided with wheels, an endless belt mounted on said wheels and provided with a continuous series of leaves or sections adapted. to lap one over another on the upper side of the belt, and each having a shield partially covering its concentrating-surface at a distance therefrom, a `.listributing-box mounted over the upper side of said belt, and means for turning said wheels and moving said belt endwise, substantially as described.

` 5. In an ore-concentrating machine the combination of a suitable frame provided with belt supporting and driving wheels, an.

endless belt mounted on said Wheels and provided with a continuous series of hinged leaves or sections adapted to vlap one over another on the u per'span of the belt, each leaf being provi( ed with a shield over and partially covering its concentrating-surface, a distributing-box located over the upper span of the belt and adapted to supply ore thereto upon the shields, anda wash-water boX located. over the upper span of the belt, and between its headend and the distributing-box, substanti ally as described.

6. In an ore-concentrating machine the combination of a mainframe, a vibratory frame mounted on the main frame and provided with belt supporting and guiding wheels, an endless belt mounted on `said wheels with its upper span inclined downwardly toward the tail end and having hinged leaves, each of which is adapted to lap at its tail end over the head end of the next succeeding leaf on they upper span of the belt and has a shield supported over and covering the concentrating-surface of the leaf adjacent to its tail end, means for imparting a vibratory movement to said belt and its carrying frame, .means for turning said drivingwheels and moving the upper span of the belt toward its upper head end, and a distributingboX arranged over and adapted to feed pulp upon the upper span of the belt substantially as described.

7. In an ore-concentrating machine the combination of a main frame, a vibratory frame mounted on the main frame and provided with belt supporting and driving wheels, means for varying the inclination of said vibratory frame, an endless belt having hinged leaves adapted to `lap one over an` other on the upper side of the belt and each provided with a shield covering a portion of its working surface, means for imparting a vibratory movement to said belt and its carl rying-frame, means for turning said drivingwheels and moving the upper side of the belt toward its upper end, and means for feeding pulp u on the upper side of the belt, substantia ly as described.

8. In an ore-concentrating machine the combination of a vibratory frame provided with belt supporting and guiding wheels, an

'tail end and provided with hinged leaves adapted to lap one over another on the upper side of the belt and each provided with a shield covering a portion of its working surface, means for imparting a vibratory movement to said belt transverse to'its longitudinal movement, and means for feeding ore upon the upper'side of the belt, substantially as described.

9. In an ore-concentrating machine an endless belt comprising carrying-belts and transverse leaves hinged to said belts, and each consisting of a plate having upturned sides, a concentrating-mat on the bottom having a raised margin at the head end and a shield supported over and partially covering said mat, substantially as described.

10. In an ore-concentrating machine an endless concentrating-belt comprising carrying-belts and leaves hinged at their head ends to said belts and each consisting ofa ilat plate having raised sides, a concentrating-mat on the bottom having a longitudinally-corrugated surface and a raised margin at its head end, and a shield located at -a distance from and partially covering said mat, substantially as described.

IOO

l1. In a concentrating-machine the combination With suitable belt supporting and carrying Wheels, of an endless belt mounted on said Wheels and having attached to it at a distance from its concentrating-surface a shield partially covering said surface and movable with the belt, substantially as described.

12. In an ore-concentrating machine the combination With a vibratory frame provided with belt sup orting and driving Wheels, an endless be t mounted upon 'said Wheels With its upper span inclined downwardly toward the tail end, and having attached to and movable with it at a distance from its Working surface a shield partially covering said surface, means for moving said belt on the upper side toward its higher end, means for imparting a vibratory movement to said belt, and means for charging pulp or ore upon the shield from which it is delivered to the concentrating-surface of the belt, substantially as described.

13. In an ore-concentrating machine the combination With a suitable frame provided With belt supporting and driving Wheels, of an endless belt mounted upon said Wheels and having attached to and movable With it a shield which is located a short distance from the concentrating-surface of the belt and has openings at intervals, and means for feed ing the pulp or ore upon said shield from which it is discharged through said o )enings upon the concentrating-surface of tie belt, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I hereto ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY C. I-IOLTHOFF.

Witnesses:

CHAs. L. Goss, HATTIE RIsoHMANN. 

